ETC Drug Tariff Requirements

The requirements for contractors to meet to continue to receive their monthly IM&T Connectivity Payment is dependent on operating a ETC accredited PMR system.  The relevant section of the Drug Tariff Entry is shown below.   Contractors are advised to check with their PMR system supplier that their current system is able to transmit ETC messages so that they are in a position to meet the Drug tariff requirements.
 
 

• Phase 1 - IT Infrastructure and Connectivity Services
• 4.4 In 2005/06, two allocations of £1,300 (ie a total of £2,600) were paid to all pharmacy contractors included, at that time, in a pharmaceutical list maintained by a Local Health Board in Wales. Pharmacy contractors were directed to ensure investment in systems to support the Programme’s key objectives associated with Phase 1; specifically, that funding must be targeted to ensure any investment in IT is “fit for purpose” and capable of running the latest version of the pharmacy contractors’ PMR system. The allocations applied only to pharmacy contractors included, at that time, in a pharmaceutical list maintained by a Local Health Board.
• 4.5 In addition, from 2007, a recurring ‘connectivity’ payment of £200pcm is made available to all contractors capable of secure/managed access to the NHS Wales network and its connectivity services, such as web eMail and HOWIS (Health of Wales Information Services).
• 4.6 With effect from 30 September 2010 the recurring ‘connectivity’ payment of £200pcm, include Phase 1 and Phase 2 services.
• Phase 2 - Release 1 - 3
• 4.7 Phase 2 is being addressed as three ‘Releases’, consisting of:

Release Number	Service/System	Available Date	Maximum Deployment Timescale
1	NHS Wales-compliant Email service (ENAS-Electronic NHS Alerts Service)	1 April 2010	30 September 2010
2	ETP - 2D-Barcoded Prescription service	30 September 2010	30 September 2011
3	Electronic Transmission of Claims service	30 April 2017	31 March 2018

• 4.8 With effect from 31 March 2018 all Pharmacy Contractors are required to be compliant with Phase 2 Releases 1, 2 & 3.

Pharmacy contractors will be given at least three months’ notice of their pharmacy IT system’s capability to access each respective release of Phase 2. The following website shows the current status for each of the accredited systems/suppliers for Wales and status of all the Phase 2 Releases:http://howis.wales.nhs.uk/wmss.

• 4.9 Pharmacy Contractors are required to inform the NHS-Shared Services Partnership-Contractor Services division whenever: 1) they commence connectivity to their individual premises, 2) have a change of system supplier, 3) have a change of accredited connectivity provider. This advice must be submitted using the ETP1 or ETP2 Claim Form, as appropriate.